Featured Reviews

Red Barrel 2012 Merlot/Syrah and 2011 Syrah

24 June,2014

Red Barrel Vineyard is the micro boutique Hawke’s Bay
vineyard, winery and label, based on Te Mata Road just out of Havelock North,
with Te Mata Estate and Black Barn as neighbours. Owners John Lockie, a sharebroker, and his
wife Juliette who have had a Hawke’s Bay winegowing background in the
‘Stockbridge’ and ‘Balthazar’ brands, purchased the former Zepelin vineyard in
2010. They immediately took out the
Cabernet Sauvignon and replanted with three clones of Chardonnay to supplement
the existing Merlot and Syrah vines which were planted in 1997. A cellar door is operated at the home vineyard
and winery facility, and it is the base for the Molto Italian Kitchen which
‘popped up’ recently. The wines are made
by Dave McKee, winemaker at Black Barn, and with a projected maximum production
of 1,000 cases from the 2.6 ha of vines, it is a true small-batch operation. Here, I review the current releases. www.redbarrel.co.nz

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

Red Barrel Hawke’s Bay Merlot/Syrah 2012

Merlot from New Zealand – Hawke’s Bay

17.5/20

80% Merlot and 20% Syrah from the ‘Home’ block, hand-picked
and fermented to 13.0% alc., the wine aged 12 months in 10% new French
oak. Dark, deep, black-hued ruby-red
colour with light purple on rim. The
nose is softly full with good depth of fragrant dark redcurrant aromas, along
with complexing savoury, nutty oak, spices and game elements. Medium-full bodied, bold and up-front
flavours of red and blackcurrants intermingle with plum and spicy berry fruit
notes. The fruit juiciness is supported
by grainy tannin extraction providing a moderately robust mouthfeel with grip
to balance the sweetness. Bright, fresh
acidity underlines the palate line and along with the tannins lead to a grainy,
dry and soft finish. This is a fulsome,
lively Merlot and Syrah blend with a robust palate. Match with barbecued and grilled game meat
dishes over the next 5-6 years.
17.5/20 Jun 2014 RRP $25.00

Disclaimer: This wine is distributed by ‘Wine2Trade’, the
company under which ‘Raymond Chan Wine Reviews’ operates

Red Barrel Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2011

Syrah from New Zealand – Hawke’s Bay

18+/20

Dark, deep, black-hued purple-red colour, youthful in
appearance. This has a full, and
well-packed bouquet of ripe black berry fruits entwined with black pepper,
spices and violet floras, the aromatics opening up in volume, revealing subtle
secondary earth and minerally complexities.
Full-bodied, the palate is rich with ripe, fleshy blackberry and peppery
fruits, along with spice, herb and floral elements. The fruit expression is stylishly restrained,
but the palate exudes presence from a concentrated core. The tannins are supple, with discreet
background acidity, and enhance a smooth flow to a soft-textured, lively and fresh,
rich, long and spicy finish. This is a
fulsome and stylishly concentrated, juicy Syrah with aromatic black and spicy
fruits. Match with lamb and venison, and
Middle Eastern cuisine over the next 6+ years.
Fruit from the ‘Arataki’ and ‘House’ blocks, destemmed and fermented to
14.0% alc., the wine aged 9 months in 75%new French oak. 18.0+/20
Jun 2014 RRP $28.00

Disclaimer: This wine is distributed by ‘Wine2Trade’, the
company under which ‘Raymond Chan Wine Reviews’ operates